This article describes the development of the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA). The VIVA statistics-processing system remains a work in progress. Member libraries will benefit from the ability to obtain the actual data from the VIVA site, rather than just the summaries, so a project to make these data available is currently being planned. The…

Since launching its first website in 1997, the Arapahoe Library District (ALD) has constantly looked at ways to review and renew this vital tool for patrons. This article focuses on the process of redesigning the ALD website--the steps taken and decisions made in order to create a site that incorporates interactive elements and patron input and…

As libraries face a veritable explosion of electronic resources and as the interconnectedness of print and online resources becomes increasingly complicated, many librarians are challenged to find efficient and cost-friendly ways to manage these resources. In this article, the authors describe how a team of people from various library departments…

During spring quarter 2008, the Western Washington University (WWU) Libraries established an interactive bloglike environment called "14 Days to Have Your Say" with the intention of gathering new ideas and feedback about the libraries from the university community. The environment was developed as a fairly simple Drupal site. The project…

In October 2009, California Digital Library (CDL), where the author serves as manager of strategic and project planning, jumped into the world of social networking by joining Twitter. From Twitter, the CDL staff publish the content of their monthly newsletter, "CDLINFO News," and also additional content created by CDL programs and…

Oregon State University (OSU) libraries, where the author serves as lead programmer, have developed a tool to make it easier for librarians to build and maintain interactive course assignment pages (ICAPs) and subject research guides (SRGs). That tool, Library a la Carte, enables librarians with minimal technical expertise to create dynamic…

There is a growing interest in making available and making sense of the data on the Web and trapped in databases. Rather than a web of unstructured documents, full of information understandable only to humans, there is a movement whose intention is to make these data structured, reusable, machine-readable, and interrelated. This approach to Web…

Beyond collecting traditional circulation statistics, tracking in-house use of library materials is a significant measure of how patrons use our resources. In our pilot project, Lending Services staff members conducted nightly pick-ups of library materials left on tables, in carrels, in study rooms, as well as books cast aside in the stacks areas…

Outlines the history, form of membership, legal incorporation, and technical aspects of the College Libraries Activity Network of New South Wales (CLANN) and describes Insearch DIAL (Division of Library and Information) Services and its place in the information services network. (RAO)

Describes how the Orange County (Florida) Library System separated walk-in and phone-in reference services. Discusses telephone reference services, the Quest Line database, staffing and resources, results, and keys to success. Includes the Quest Line work flow chart. (PEN)

The primary service of the National Agricultural Library (NAL), the distribution of information about agricultural literature, is accomplished through: (1) establishment of on-line data bases: Cataloging and Indexing (CAIN) containing bibliographic records of documents in the Library, and Serials Titles Automated Records (STAR); (2) automated…

Explains how a multipurpose bibliographic/MARC data base of machine-readable data files (MRDF), created according to the MARC II record format, was conceived, and how much an information resource would benefit the general user and professional librarian. (Author/CWM)

Describes the evolution of the Louisiana State University Digital Library, highlighting its differences from comparable tools at other institutions (a local database plus a framework designed for distribution and growth), content, and future plans. (PEN)

The primary objective of this report is to provide useful information to community colleges making decisions about beginning or improving online access to information. The report provides conference highlights, including summaries of the keynote address by Anne Caputo of Dialog Information Services, several short talks on community colleges and…

This document includes the text of presentations given at the First Binational Conference on Libraries in California and Baja California, as well as minutes from four roundtables held at the conference. Following a prologue and a brief background on the conference, the following presentations are included: (1) "State Support for Public…